320 Developing Strategies for National Chemicals Management

Part 1: StockholmSwedenPart 2: in one of the participating countries (to be decided)

Number of participants

25

Target Region

Global

Closing date for applications

Invitation

Objectives

The overall (long term) objective is that countries participating will be able to obtain further insight into the relation between chemicals management in the supply-and-use chain, economic growth and improved human health and environmental quality. The programme should both suit the participants’ needs and contribute to poverty reduction by promoting the sustainable use of chemicals.

The mid-term objective (3–5 years) is that an organisational change should take place or make further development in which participants use the knowledge and tools gained from the programme.

In this way rules, regulations and institutional infrastructure can be developed for improved chemicals management on a national level.

After each programme, there should be an improvement in participants’ competence to efficiently work for a well-functioning chemicals management system in their countries.

The programme is designed to provide participants with knowledge and experience of the basic elements needed for building up an efficient chemicals control system, focusing on preventive measures.

Target Group

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Laos, Myanmar and Bangladesh are prioritized countries. Candidates from other countries in the regions with the potential and the wish to develop chemicals management on a national level may also be considered.

The target group primarily includes persons employed by ministries or authorities with a mandate to initiate and run change processes according to the programme’s objectives. Candidates should have a relevant university degree in technical or natural sciences, or other relevant university education. Nomination of at least two candidates from the organisation or country is encouraged.

The training programme will be organised and conducted in English, without any translation.

Candidates from countries where English is not an official language should take a language test with an official body in their home country, if documentation supporting his/her proficiency in English cannot be provided. The Swedish Embassy/Consulate in the applicant’s country might recommend institutes for conducting appropriate tests.

Contents

The focus of the programme is to give an overall perspective of chemicals management, including the advantages and disadvantages of different ways of organising roles and responsibilities through legislation. Key elements of preventive chemicals management are covered: legislation, enforcement and awareness raising data on current situation and trends in the production and use of chemicals, classification and labelling of chemicals, exposure assessment, risk assessment and methods for risk reduction. Relations between preventive chemicals management and the sustainable development goals as well as areas such as pollution control, occupational safety and health, waste management, product development and trade will also be addressed. The participants’ individual change project is an important tool in the development of the national chemicals management control. The project should be executed as an integrated part of the participants’ ordinary work, fully endorsed by the organisation and completed before the regional phase of the programme.